Tampa Men's Basketball Announces Addition of Three Players
Group includes players from Georgia, Texas and an international student-athlete.
TAMPA, Fla. - University of Tampa men's basketball coach Richard Schmidt has announced the signing of three high school seniors. All three will enroll at UT in the fall and be eligible for the 2016-17 season.
The group includes guard/forward Brendan Baker (Lewisville, Texas), forward Brent Duncan (Atlanta, Ga.) and point guard Alberto Moreno (Ingenio, Gran Canaria).
The Spartans will lose a pair of players due to graduation, including forward Zach Hollis and guard Tyler Zacur. This group of newcomers will join a team that welcomes back all five starters from 2015-16.
Following are profiles on each of the signees.
Brendan Baker • 6-5 • 195 • G/F • Lewisville, Texas • Cheshire (Conn.) Academy/John Paul II High School
Prep School: Attended Cheshire Academy as a post-graduate...Was a key reserve for a team that featured five NCAA Division I signees...Cheshire Academy competes in one of the most highly regarded prep school leagues in the country...Finished 22-10 reaching the NESPAC (AA) Final Four.
High School: Graduated from John Paul II High School and coach Jacob Anderson...Played guard and forward for the Cardinals...Helped team to state championship game...Named second-team all-state and first-team all-district senior year...Was second-team all-district as a junior...Averaged a team-high 15.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game...Shot over 50 percent from the field including 40 percent from 3-point range...Earned team MVP honors and was selected to play in the North Texas Basketball Coaches Association All Star Game...As a junior, was named second-team all-district and his team finished with a school record of 27-7, losing the state championship game 46-45 to nationally recognized basketball powerhouse Prestonwood Christian Academy.
Personal: Volunteered for Special Olympics Tennis and young men's service league...Named Cardinal Scholar...Son of Steven Baker and Vanessa Baker...Has a younger brother, Ryan...Father played for the Spartans and Richard Schmidt from 1988-90...His aunt, Elizabeth (Baker) Kallenbach, was a 2007 Summa Cum Laude graduate and his uncle, Hunter Kallenbach, a 2008 Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of Tampa...Management major...Born September 9.
Brent Duncan • 6-7 • 210 • F • Atlanta, Ga. • Holy Innocents' Episcopal School
High School: Attended Holy Innocents' Episcopal School, where he was coached by Terry Kelly...Played wing, forward and center for the Golden Bears...Earned Max Preps Play of the Week in 2015 season as he had five dunks in one game against arch-rival...Named Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-region...Team set record for most wins in school history and most improved for sophomore season...Named to all-tournament team at San Destin Beach Blowout...Played club basketball for Game Elite and coach Darrell Brown...Played the Adidas Circuit for two years and traveled across the U.S.
Personal: Full name is Brent James Duncan...Son of Rusty and Michele Duncan...Has an older sister (Lauren) and a twin brother (Russell)...General studies major...Born March 12.
Alberto Moreno • 6-3 • 190 • G • Ingenio, Gran Canaria • Liberty Christian Prep
High School: Graduated from Liberty Christian Prep in Tavares, Fla...Played for coach Erik Atkins.
Personal: Full name is Alberto Moreno Trujillo...General studies major...Born June 30.